Since stay at home orders began, more and more people have turned to video calls to catch up safely with family and friends or work with colleagues without going into the office. Now that you’re on camera more often than ever and you’re constantly looking back at your own reflection, you might have found that you don’t appear as confident as you would like on camera. To help you achieve more confidence during your video calls, we’ve compiled lots of helpful tips to make your next video call better.

Choose the Right Light
The first step to looking great during video calls is getting your lighting right. If your lighting is too dark, nobody will be able to see your face. When using overhead lighting, it might cast shadows on your face which can make you look tired. If it’s too bright behind you, the background will look washed out. For best results, use soft lighting behind your webcam and behind you. For instance, if you have your desk against a wall, place a lamp behind your camera on the left and the right. You should also have lighting behind you. Turn your camera on and play with your lighting ahead of time so you look picture perfect as soon as your video starts.
Find the Right Angles
For best results, your camera should be angled at eye level to you. Angling it too high or too low will make you look a little off. Whether you have a detachable camera or use the one attached to your laptop, find a way to angle it at eye level. You can get a tripod for a detached camera or stack your laptop on some books to reach the perfect height. Make sure you position yourself at the center of the camera.
Minimize Distractions
If you live with roommates, family members, or even pets, consider ways to eliminate distractions in the background of your camera. Go to a room that has a door or give everyone a heads up not to enter the room during your call. Eliminating distractions allows you to focus better and look more professional!
Check Your Background
Look behind you before you go on camera. Is there anything in the background you wouldn’t want someone to see? Tidy up the space and make sure your background looks presentable. If you’re using Zoom, however, you can always add in a custom background so nobody knows what your space looks like.
Look Presentable
The last tip for looking great on video calls is looking presentable. Make sure to actually get dressed (at least from the waist up), brush and/or style your hair, and put on makeup if you wish.
Enhance Your Smile
If you really want to shine on your next video chat, consider enhancing your smile with cosmetic dentistry. A simple at-home whitening treatment can help boost your smile for a confident on-camera look. If you feel self-conscious about your smile, it’s likely you don’t look confident on camera. Put an end to unconfident video chats and talk to Dr. Appolon about our different cosmetic dentistry procedures to choose from. Contact Appolon Dental Group today to schedule an appointment or virtual consultation with our Midtown Manhattan cosmetic dentist.